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Associate Press

JUNEAU- The U.S. Forest Service plans to take a portion of the timber payments it promised or paid out to least 22 states.

Forest Service Chief Thomas Tidwell sent a letter to Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell, saying the state will see its share reduced by nearly $1 million, or nearly half of its allotment. The Western Governors Association said at least 21 other states have received similar letters.

The federal agency in March asked Alaska to return more than $800,000, but the state refused, saying there was no basis in law for the request.

It wasn't immediately clear why the agency is now taking more than $930,000 from Alaska's forest rehabilitation funds. Forest service officials didn't immediately return a message Thursday.